Thursday, May 16, 2013

What does the U.S. Constitution — specifically the First Amendment — really say about the separation of church and state?

This question has been at the center of public debate for decades, as atheist activists, in particular, have advanced the notion that the nation’s founders envisioned a particularly fervent imposition of the segregation of God and government. But is this really the case?

Dr. John Eastman, a distinguished law professor at Chapman University, told TheBlaze that he believes these non-believers have their story wrong.

“They think the phrase separation of church and state is the First Amendment,” he said, going on to note that these words don’t appear anywhere in the U.S. Constitution.More

Auto dealers push law blocking Tesla sales in North CarolinaTesla Motors has become the belle of Wall Street over the past week after revealing its first quarterly profit and receiving the top score ever from Consumer Reports for the Tesla Model S electric luxury sedan. But those accomplishments haven’t played well yet in North Carolina, where the state Senate unanimously passed a bill Monday night that would block Tesla’s plan for selling its cars directly to consumers — forcing it to either steer clear of the entire state or use a franchised auto dealer like all other automakers.The Republican-sponsored bill, which has the backing of the North Carolina Auto Dealers Association, mirrors fights in several other states by dealers who worry about the precedent set by Tesla — even though Tesla’s own projected output of 20,000 vehicles a year is a rounding error on the 15 million new vehicles sold by U.S. dealers annually. Dealers in New York and Massachusetts have gone to court in attempts to block Tesla; in Texas, the automaker has been pushing its own bill that would loosen restrictions which limit its sales pitches to phone conversations.Dealers contend automakers, especially a start-up like Tesla, aren’t inclined to handle warranty repairs, service and other tasks that customers need close to home. For its part, Tesla has been lobbying North Carolina lawmakers for an exemption by arguing that blocking the company’s plans hurts the state economy; it says it has sold nearly 100 Model S cars to state residents with deposits for 60 more, and plans more service centers beyond the one opened in Raleigh.What’s noteworthy about the North Carolina bill is that in addition to stopping Tesla, it would force minor changes on the agreements dealers have with established automakers — including an odd proposal barring automakers from ordering dealers to remove sports memorabilia from their stores. (This may have something to do with NASCAR owners who run one model of car on Sundays but sell a variety of them through their name-brand dealership every other day of the week.) Automakers and dealers have fought for years in statehouses over who controls what, and in general, the dealers have held the upper hand. For Tesla, it’s just another sign that Silicon Valley’s only automaker has joined the major leagues.

The Justice Department temporarily lost track of two known or suspected terrorists who were in the witness protection program -- and allowed others on the no-fly list to board commercial flights -- according to a watchdog report which fueled criticism of the administration.

"This is gross mismanagement -- pure and simple," Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement.

The allegations were made in an inspector general report released Thursday. The report found agencies in the department did not properly share the new identities of some in witness protection -- the lapse meant those new names were not updated in the no-fly list.

"Therefore, it was possible for known or suspected terrorists to fly on commercial airplanes in or over the United States and evade one of the government's primary means of identifying and tracking terrorists' movements and actions," the report said.

Thomas Jefferson – one of my long-time heroes – was convinced that he and his friends blew the chance they had to establish true freedom in America. I know that a hundred thousand self-praising textbooks, speeches, pundits and songs claim that Jefferson and the rest established freedom, but that’s NOT what Jefferson thought, and that is NOT what he said. (You can choose who to believe for yourself.)

Nearly fifty years after the declaration of independence, he was of the opinion that the founders did not fully live up to the moment presented to them.

Here is a letter that Jefferson wrote to John Cartwright on June 5th, 1824. Jefferson’s words are in plain text and my modern paraphrasing of the lines are in italics:Our Revolution presented us an album on which we were free to write what we pleased. Yet we did not avail ourselves of all the advantages of our position.The Revolution gave us a shot at real liberty, but we blew it.We had never been permitted to exercise self-government. When forced to assume it, we were novices in its science. Its principles and forms had little entered into our former education. We established, however, some (but not all) of its important principles…We weren’t prepared for what we had to do.We think experience has proved the benefit of subjecting questions to two separate bodies of deliberants. But in constituting these bodies, [we have] been mistaken, making one of these bodies, and in some cases both, the representatives of property instead of persons.We thought our legislative structure would protect us, but they were bought-off right away.This double deliberation might be obtained just as well without any violation of true principle, either by requiring a greater age in one of the bodies, or by electing a proper number of representatives of persons, or by dividing them by lots into two chambers, and renewing the division at frequent intervals, in order to break up all cabals.What we really needed was something that would break up parties and factions.

A man in Tampa, Florida, is being accused of secretly slipping his girlfriend an abortion drug, an act that killed the couple’s unborn baby. The alleged details of the troubling story are ghastly.

Prosecutors claim that John Andrew Welden, 28, switched the label on an abortion pill bottle to make it look like Amoxicillin, a common antibiotic. After the woman, identified as 26-year-old Remee Lee, took the drug, she purportedly miscarried, reports The Tampa Tribune.

In March, Welden apparently found out that the woman was pregnant. While he purportedly wanted her to have an abortion, Lee decided to keep the baby and allegedly said that she would care for the child on her own.More

Although Kermit Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortionist found guilty this week of three counts of first-degree murder, has been successfully removed from civil society, another abortion practitioner like him may be on the loose in Houston, Texas.

“Harris County authorities and the Texas Department of State Health Services are investigating a local doctor accused Wednesday by an anti-abortion group of performing late-term abortions in 2011,” the Houston Chronicle reports.

The abortionist, Douglas Karpen, has been accused by three former staffers, Deborah Edge, Gigi Aguliar, and Krystal Rodriguez, of performing several illegal abortions. Their testimony, and alleged photographic evidence, was brought to light by Operation Rescue, a pro-life watchdog.More

BALTIMORE — Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced Tuesday that Maryland has joined with 49 other states and the federal government in a $500 million settlement to resolve civil and criminal allegations that Ranbaxy, a generic pharmaceutical manufacturer based in Gurgaon, India, introduced adulterated drugs into interstate commerce.

As a result, false or fraudulent claims were submitted to Maryland's Medicaid program.

"Nothing can be more important than the health and safety of our citizens," said Gansler. "This record settlement is an important victory for Maryland consumers who have every right to expect that the medicine they purchase is of the highest possible quality and meets or exceeds all federal standards." More

Resume:Frankford, DE- The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a crash that occurred earlier this morning involving a Delaware State Police car and a truck.

The incident occurred around 7:40 a.m. as a 26 year old male trooper was on patrol in the area of Pyle Center Road (SR20) and Frankford School Road, east of Frankford. The trooper, who was stopped at posted stop sign on Frankford School Road at the intersection of SR20, observed a traffic violation of a vehicle traveling northbound on SR20. The trooper then pulled the fully marked 2012 Chevrolet Caprice into the intersection in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, when a southbound 1999 Ford F450 truck being operated by Chad E. Marvel, took evasive action by braking and swerving to the left. The truck, which was not required to stop, then struck the cruiser on the front left corner panel and caused the patrol car to spin in a clockwise manner before coming to a stop in the middle of the road. The truck continued in a south easterly direction and off the side of the roadway where it struck several small trees before coming to a stop in a ditch.

The trooper, who was properly restrained, was transported by EMS to Beebe Medical Center where he was treated and released with minor injuries.

Chad E. Marvel, was properly restrained and refused treatment at the scene. A passenger in the truck, Daniel J. Gill 4th was also properly restrained and was transported to Beebe Medical Center where he was treated and released with minor injuries.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident. SR20 between Frankford School and Roxanna Road (SR17) was closed for approximately two hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.

Financial promises made under different conditions and assumptions are null and void, period.

Essayist Eric A. touched on a key theme of the next decade in his two-part series A Brief History of Cycles and Time, Part 1 and Part 2: the political, social and financial dominance of the Baby Boom generation, and the eventual erosion of that dominance.

The promises made to the 76 million baby Boomers cannot be met. It's really very simple: promises made when the economy was growing by 4% a year and the next generation was roughly double the size of the generation entering retirement cannot be fulfilled in an economy growing 1.5% a year (and only growing at all as the result of massive expansions of public and private debt) in which the generation after the cohort entering retirement is significantly smaller.

Just look at this chart: demographics is destiny, and the so-called Silent Generation (roughly those born 1925 - 1942) currently drawing Social Security and Medicare benefits is somewhere between half and 2/3 the size of the Baby Boom.

Meanwhile, Generation X that follows the Baby Boom is almost half the size of the enormous cohort currently entering retirement. Sorry folks, the numbers don't add up, no matter how you finesse them: a smaller working population in a low-to-zero growth economy burdened with fast-rising debt cannot fund the pay-as-you-go retirement of 76 million citizens, fully 25% of the entire U.S. population.

(Recall that Social Security, Medicare and all other entitlements are pay-as-you-go. There is no trust fund; the current benefits are paid in full by taxes paid by current workers/taxpayers or by Federal borrowing via the sale of Treasury bonds.)

Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, who last week formally kicked off his campaign for governor, will get some national television exposure this weekend when he presents the Woodlawn Vase to the winner of Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Aides say Governor Martin O'Malley will not be attending the ceremony due to a family commitment, and Brown will make the presentation.

The ceremony is part of NBC Sports' coverage of the Preakness Stakes.More

An Interview With Barack Obama About The IRS Scandal, AP Phone Records And BenghaziBy Michael, on May 14th, 2013

Does Barack Obama have any idea what is going on in the government that he is supposedly running?Scandals are erupting all around him, and he supposedly was not aware that any wrongdoing had taken place in any of those instances. It is almost as if every major government agency has gone rogue and Obama has no idea what the heck they are doing. According to Obama, he often doesn’t learn what those under his authority are up to until he sits down and turns on the news. Should we believe him when he claims ignorance over and over again, or is Obama just trying to protect himself? Whether you are a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent, the revelations that have come out in recent days about the IRS, the seizure of AP phone records and Benghazi should be very alarming to you. Taken together, these scandals paint a picture of a federal government that has become drunk with power, and no matter where you may fall on the political spectrum that is something that nobody should want.

Posted below is a fictional interview that I have created between an anonymous reporter and Barack Obama about the IRS scandal, the seizure of AP phone records, Benghazi and other sensitive topics. Yes, this interview is a bit absurd, but so is the notion that Barack Obama is completely ignorant about so many important things that are going on inside his own government…

REPORTER: “President Obama, the IRS has publicly admitted that they were specifically targeting patriot groups and Tea Party organizations for ‘extra scrutiny’. When did you first learn about this?”

Over 86 years, the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 blacks – a figure matched in less than four days if tallying the number of black babies who are aborted.

Walter Hoye, founder and president of the Issues4Life Foundation, shared those statistics at a press conference on Tuesday where black clergy and other leaders gathered in response to the guilty verdict in the trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell, who was convicted of murdering three newborn babies.

“Right now to give some of us just a perspective of the impact of abortion on demand in the black community, according to the archives of the Tuskegee Institute, from 1882 to 1968 – 86 years – the Ku Klux Klan lynched 3,446 Negroes,” Hoye said. “While it took the Klan 86 years to accomplish this, abortion on demand in America accomplishes that is less than 4 days.”More

"Salisbury police are investigating an assault and are asking for the public’s help in locating a “person of interest,” the department tweeted at 10:43 a.m. Thursday.

The victim is Jamie Fagans, 18, of Salisbury, said Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan, and the motive is unknown. The case is still under investigation. . ..

....The name of the injured male has not been made public. The victim was treated at transported by ambulance to Peninsula Regional Medical Center and then transferred to Shock Trauma in Baltimore for treatment of facial injuries, a Salisbury Police Department news release stated..."

Internal IRS memo says Joseph Grant, commissioner of the agency's tax exempt and government entities division, will retire on June 3 in wake of scandal on targeting of conservative groups.From Fox News

Retired racecar driver Richard "Dick" Trickle, 71, died Thursday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Lincoln County officials.

The shooting occurred at 12:02 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery on Highway 150 East in Boger City.

The Lincoln County Communications Center received a call, apparently from Trickle, that "there would be a dead body and it would be his." Communications Center workers tried to place a return call to the number but did not get an answer.More

Gov. Martin O'Malley is set to sign into law some of the toughest gun restrictions in the nation on Thursday at a time when gun deaths in Maryland are at their lowest point since the FBI started collecting data in 1995.

In Maryland, 272 people were killed with a gun in 2011, the most recent year the FBI data is available, down 34 percent from 414 firearms homicides in 2007.

The new law would outlaw the sale of 45 assault rifles, require licensing and fingerprinting for new handgun purchases, restrict ammunition magazines to 10 rounds and outlaw gun ownership by the mentally ill. It would become effective Oct. 1.More

A recent genetic study of human genes related to the brain concluded that possibly there appeared a "microcephalin variant (that) could have arisen anywhere from 14,000 to 60,000 years ago" and an "ASPM variant ranged from 500 to 14,000 years" ago and "roughly correlating with the development of written language, spread of agriculture and development of cities" (see more)

Now if one assumes that the "microcephalin variant could have arisen anywhere from 14,000 to 60,000 years ago", possibly could correspond to the "Big Bang" or "Fortuitous Mutation" that Richard G. Klein refers to in his book "The Dawn of Human Culture" and says occurred about 50,000 years ago. Then, what about the "ASPM variant ranged from 500 to 14,000 years" ago and"roughly correlating with the development of written language, spread of agriculture and development of cities" as proposed.

The Bible repeatedly says that Adam and his immediate offspring were farmersGenesis 2:15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and too keep it."

Genesis 3:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden to till the ground from whence he was taken."

Genesis 4:2 And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground."

Here is a review of some of the findings by archaeologists concerning farming:

Barber Anthony Cymerys has the best deal in town: A haircut in exchange for a hug. And business is booming.

HARTFORD, Conn. — Each Wednesday, barber Anthony Cymerys sets up his chair in the shade of an oak tree in Hartford's Bushnell Park. For longtime clients, the homeless or those just down on their luck, the fee is always the same: a hug for a haircut.

The 82-year-old Cymerys, who is known as Joe the Barber, began offering his services 25 years ago after retiring from a career in business. He had cut hair for his family but decided to put his clippers to work for the less fortunate after being inspired by a church sermon about the homeless.More

Year-Long Joint OCTF-NYPD Investigation Revealed That Ring Laundered More Than $55 Million In Illegal Proceeds; Dodged At Least $80 Million In New York Taxes.

Schneiderman: This Indictment Is The Result Of Our Relentless Fight Against Organized Crime Rings.

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and NYPD Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced the indictment of 16 members of a criminal ring that flooded New York City, Albany County and Schenectady County with more than a million cartons of untaxed cigarettes illegally imported from Virginia. A 244-count indictment, unsealed in Brooklyn Supreme Court, charges 16 co-conspirators with enterprise corruption, money laundering and related tax crimes. Each of the defendants faces up to 25 years behind bars.

During a 12-month investigation, law enforcement seized more than 65,000 forged NYC/NYS cigarette tax stamps that were not yet affixed to packs of cigarettes, and nearly 20,000 cartons of untaxed cigarettes. The investigation, which has so far uncovered $55 million in illegal cigarette sales, is continuing. While it hasn’t been established yet where the illicit proceeds ended up, similar schemes have been used in the past to help fund organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.

Today’s Budget Work Session, scheduled for 3:00 p.m., has been canceled. It has been re-scheduled for next Tuesday, May 21, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. until 12 noon in Conference Room #306 of the Government Office Building.

Publishers Notes: Salisbury News learned Jake Day and Laura Mitchell called in one hour ago and said they couldn't make it to today's meeting. Here we go Folks.

June 1 & 2 cyclists of all abilities will enjoy well-supported routes through scenic Eastern Shore waterfront communities to help create a world free of MS

Easton, MD-. For over 30 years, cyclists have gathered on the Eastern Shore for Bike MS: Chesapeake Challenge in an attempt to raise awareness and funds to end the devastating effects of multiple sclerosis. For one Top Crab- a participant who raises over $1000- the challenge is personal.

For nearly two decades, Robert Tobin’s mother, Mary Ann Tobin, has battled multiple sclerosis. To support a cure for his mother, who he describes as having an unwavering and positive attitude, Tobin established his Chesapeake Challenge team, the Fat Crabs. Since the team’s inception 13 years ago, the Fat Crabs have raised over $300,000.

“Mom is a major role model in my life, a woman of high integrity, humor and love.

My goal is to continue to raise money to support research activities to find a cure for MS,” says Tobin.

Just 40 minutes from Annapolis, Chesapeake Challenge will be held at a new venue in 2013, the Talbot County Community Center in Easton, MD. Participants will enjoy quaint and scenic waterfront communities like Tilghman Island, Oxford, St. Michaels and Trappe. A variety of route options—ranging from 34-100 miles on Saturday, and 30 & 50 mile routes on Sunday-- make Chesapeake Challenge accessible to riders of all abilities. All participants are required to raise $300, most raise significantly more trying to be a Top Crab.

“I know the Fat Crabs are excited to ride a new course, especially one that includes such a great area of Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It should be a fantastic ride,” says Tobin.

While visiting some cemeteries you may notice that headstones marking certain graves have coins on them, left by previous visitors to the grave. Well, here is a purported story, and I think it's a good one!

These coins have distinct meanings when left on the headstones of those who gave their life while serving in America's military, and these meanings vary depending on the denomination of coin.

A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect. Leaving a penny at the grave means simply that you visited.

A nickel indicates that you and the deceased trained at boot camp together, while a dime means you served with him in some capacity. By leaving a quarter at the grave, you are telling the family that you were with the solider when he was killed.

According to tradition, the money left at graves in national cemeteries and state veterans cemeteries is eventually collected, and the funds are put toward maintaining the cemetery or paying burial costs for indigent veterans.

In the US, this practice became common during the Vietnam war, due to the political divide in the country over the war; leaving a coin was seen as a more practical way to communicate that you had visited the grave than contacting the soldier's family, which could devolve into an uncomfortable argument over politics relating to the war.

Some Vietnam veterans would leave coins as a "down payment" to buy their fallen comrades a beer or play a hand of cards when they would finally be reunited.

The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has routinely charged conservative and watchdog groups fees that the agency has waived for the mainstream media and "green" groups, according to a new report.

According to the Washington Examiner, a Conservative Enterprise Institute review found that while "government agencies are supposed to waive fees for groups disseminating information for public benefit," the EPA denied such requests from the Conservative Enterprise Institute in addition to other groups like Judicial Watch and the Franklin Center that hold Obama administration accountable.

The EPA granted requests for waivers to groups like the National Resources Defense Council and EarthJustice. The report found that the EPA waived fees for "green" groups 92% of the time.

“This is as clear an example of disparate treatment as the IRS’ hurdles selectively imposed upon groups with names ominously reflecting an interest in, say, a less intrusive or biased federal government,” CEI fellow Chris Horner said. “This is a clear pattern of favoritism for allied groups and a concerted campaign to make life more difficult for those deemed unfriendly."

A national movement to grant more teens the right to vote scored its first victory this week with the passage of legislation in Takoma Park, to lower the voting age in municipal elections to 16. But momentum continued Wednesday as advocates in Massachusetts spoke at the State House in favor of allowing 17-year-olds to vote.

Activists have made a number of attempts across the country in recent years to grant more teens access to the polls. They point to the change in Takoma Park as a potential springboard for movements elsewhere.

“This is, in legislation terms, the first real big step,” said Jeffrey Nadel, president of the D.C.-based National Youth Rights Association, which lobbied for the legislation in Takoma Park. “We’re excited that this will be the spark that lights the fuse for change across the country.”

Resume: Seaford, DE- The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and registration Unit (S.O.A.R) is currently searching for a Seaford sex offender after he failed to re-register his current address.

Investigators have obtained warrants on Anthony W. Wright, 56 of Seaford, who is a high risk Tier 3 sex offender, after they learned that he failed to register his home address and had not notified S.O.A.R. of his status within 3 days as he is required to do by law.

Anthony Wright is described as a black male, 5’09” tall and 225 lbs., black hair and brown eyes.

The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit is asking anyone who may know the location of Anthony W. Wright to call 302-672-5306 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by callingDelaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

Resume: Laurel, DE- The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and registration Unit (S.O.A.R) is currently searching for a Laurel sex offender after he failed to re-register his current address.

Investigators have obtained warrants on Bruce A. Wilkerson, 59 0f Laurel who is a medium risk Tier 2 sex offender, after they learned that he failed to register his home address and had not notified S.O.A.R. of his status within 3 days as he is required to do by law.

Bruce A. Wilkerson is described as a white male, 5'11” tall and 155 lbs., grey hair and brown eyes.

The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit is asking anyone who may know the location of Bruce Wilkerson to call 302-672-5306 or by utilizing the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available to download at: http://www.delaware.gov/apps/. Information may also be provided by callingDelaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, via the internet at www.tipsubmit.com, or by sending an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword "DSP."

A Pennsylvania collections firm has so well prying Maryland back taxes out of delinquent taxpayers that the comptroller’s office just got approval for $300,000 more from the Board of Public Works to pay the agency’s commissions.

NCO Financial Systems of Horsham, Pa. collected $33 million from delinquent tax accounts since 2009– 22% more than the original estimate of $27 million. The firm gets a 5.35% commission on any money it collects.

With the approval of the comptroller’s latest request, NCO will have received $1.8 million in commissions since 2009, according to the board’s summary of the request.(page 82).

On May 14, 2013, a Wicomico County jury convicted Keenan Hassan Obrian White, age 21, of Salisbury, Maryland, of one count of burglary in the third degree along with lesser, related offenses. Following the jury trial, a Wicomico County Circuit Court judge sentenced White to 8 years in the Maryland Division of Corrections.

White had been pending charges related to a home invasion of the Salisbury residence of his ex-girlfriend and her mother occurring during the early morning hours of November 14, 2012. In that incident, White was alleged to have broken into the victim’s bedroom by pushing an air conditioner out of the bedroom window. White and another unknown assailant, while attempting to conceal their identities utilizing hoodies, then made entry into the bedroom and proceeded to assault the ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend. The assault was interrupted by the ex-girlfriend’s mother who heard the commotion, entered her daughter’s bedroom and recognized White. Once recognized, White fled back out of the bedroom window and was later charged by Sheriff’s deputies.

Wicomico County State’s Attorney Matthew A. Maciarello commended the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office for its work in the investigation and prosecution of this case. Mr. Maciarello also thanked James L. Britt who prosecuted White.

White now goes to Worcester County, where he was previously convicted of robbery. [1] White will now face a violation of probation proceeding in that case due to the new burglary conviction.

[1] In the Worcester County robbery case, 23-K11-0150, White is named as “Keenen Obrian Hassan White.”

Mayor James Ireton, Jr. will make an announcement for the position of Interim City Administrator at a Press Conference today, Thursday, May 16, 2013, at 2:30pm on the steps of the Government Office Building.

On Saturday, July 13, Women Supporting Women will host the 9th Annual Ride for Breast Cancer Awareness, a motorcycle poker run that will begin and end at the Elk’s Lodge #817 in Salisbury, Maryland. The $20 per rider and $10 per passenger cost includes lunch. Registration can be completed online at WomenSupportingWomen.org or on site beginning at 9:00 AM the day of the ride.

Women Supporting Women is a local, grass-roots non-profit organization dedicated to providing awareness, education and support to all those who are affected by breast cancer. With no national ties or funding, we rely completely on our community to help us provide free services to our neighbors, friends and families right here on Delmarva. To learn more about WSW, visit www.WomenSupportingWomen.org or www.facebook.com/WomenSupportingWomen/delmarva , or stop by our Salisbury office located at 1320 Belmont Avenue, next to the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.

Those were some of the more shareable words flying around social media Wednesday morning as people reacted to a story from the New York Post that "rich Manhattan moms" have discovered a way to skip lines at Disney World: They hire disabled guides "to pose as family members" so they can skip to the front.

"The black-market Disney guides run $130 an hour, or $1,040 for an eight-hour day," the report said.

Social researcher Wednesday Martin "caught wind of the underground network" while working on a book about practices among New York City's Park Avenue elite, the Post reported.More

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Martin O’Malley announced the appointment of Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Frank Weathersbee to the Maryland State Parole Commission. After serving 25 years as Anne Arundel County’s chief law enforcement officer, State’s Attorney Weathersbee today announced his retirement from the position. He will begin his role as a member of the Parole Commission on June 12th.

“Frank Weathersbee brings more than 40 years’ experience as a prosecutor to the Maryland Parole Commission,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “He has worked tirelessly to defend the rights of individuals who have been the victims of crime and worked to protect the communities and ensure the safety of the citizens of Anne Arundel County.“This moment comes with many mixed emotions,” said Mr. Weathersbee. “I remain proud of the work I have done for Anne Arundel County and look forward to serving the State of Maryland in the years ahead. I am grateful to Governor O’Malley for this opportunity and will bring my many years of experience in the field of criminal justice to my service on the commission. ”Mr. Weathersbee served as a prosecutor for almost his entire legal career, becoming an Assistant State’s Attorney in 1969. An advocate for victims’ rights, Mr. Weathersbee built a Victim-Witness Services program that has been modeled by many other prosecutors’ offices. He received the State Board of Victims Services’ top honor - The Ginny Mahoney Memorial Award - for his efforts on behalf of victims’ rights. Mr. Weathersbee has created legislation and coordinated efforts to strengthen the rights of victims, including the Maryland Victims’ Bill of Rights. He serves as the president of the County’s Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and is a charter member of the Maryland State Board of Victim Services.Mr. Weathersbee is a past president of the Maryland State’s Attorneys Association and remains active in the group. He is a charter member of the Anne Arundel County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, bringing together members of various law enforcement agencies. Additionally, he served on the Maryland Commission on Juvenile Justice Jurisdiction, the State Task Force to Implement the Victims’ Rights Amendment, and the Maryland Commission for the Future of the Courts. On a national level, Mr. Weathersbee is active with the National District Attorneys Association, where he serves on the organization’s Board of Directors and has served as their treasurer.Mr. Weathersbee, a resident of Crownsville, received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland, College Park and his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law.

Incident: RobberyDate of Incident: 13 May 2013Location: 1510 S. Salisbury Blvd., Salisbury, MDSuspect: Ricky L. Melton, 42, Greenwood, DENarrative: On 13 May 2013 at 11:53 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported robbery at the Temple Hill Motel on South Salisbury Boulevard. Upon arrival, the deputy learned a subject, later identified as Ricky L. Melton, entered the motel office wearing a hat and bandanna and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk told the deputy that Melton was standing and holding his arm in a manner implying that Milton was armed. The clerk went into a rear room in a manner indicating she intended to comply with Milton’s demands, but closed the door instead and called 911. Milton apparently changed his mind and fled from the motel lobby. The clerk and another witness followed Milton and were able to describe the vehicle he drove away in. The vehicle was spotted a short time later on U.S. 13 and Milton ignored all signals to stop and led law enforcement northbound on U.S. 13 and through commercial parking lots before exiting his vehicle in an attempt to flee on foot. Milton was quickly apprehended. Post- arrest, Milton was observed to be wearing the same clothes he had on during the robbery and also had the gloves, hat and bandanna described by the store clerk in his vehicle. Milton was also found to have a metal pole in his pants pocket that could have been used to construe possession of a weapon to a potential victim. The investigating deputy took Milton into custody and transported him to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance the Commissioner detained Milton in the Detention Center without bond.Charges: Armed Robbery, Resisting Arrest, Dangerous Weapon, Flee and Elude

Narrative: On 13 May 2013 at 11:43 AM, a deputy was travelling in the vicinity of College Avenue and Snow Hill Road when the deputy observed a subject later identified as Jeffrey Cannon exit a stopped vehicle and approach the vehicle in front of him waiting for the red signal to change. The deputy observed that Cannon punched the front seat passenger in the face which then precipitated a physical altercation between the pair in the roadway. The second subject would be identified as a 16 year old juvenile from Seaford. Traffic in the intersection came to a halt due to the physical confrontation. The deputy approached the pair, broke up the fight and placed both under arrest. During a subsequent investigation, Cannon stated the altercation began after the juvenile passenger threw a hamburger at the driver’s side window of Cannon’s vehicle. The deputy transported Cannon to the Central Booking Unit where he was processed and taken in front of the District Court Commissioner. After an initial appearance, the Commissioner detained Cannon in the Detention Center in lieu of $5,000.00 bond. The juvenile suspect was transported to the Sheriff’s Office where he was charged on a juvenile referral that will be submitted to the Department of Juvenile Services for adjudication. The juvenile was released to a parent.Charges: Assault, Disturbance of the Peace

Cannon, Jeffrey

Incident: FugitiveDate of Incident: 14 May 2013Location: 31000 block of Old Ocean City Road, Salisbury, MDSuspect: Tyler Downs Truitt, 28, Salisbury, MDNarrative: On 14 May 2013 at 6:09 AM, a deputy from the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office located and arrested Tyler Truitt at a residence in the 31000 block of Old Ocean City Road. Truitt was wanted on two separate warrants: District Court Bench Warrant issued back in January 2013 after Truitt failed to appear for a theft over $1,000.00 case, Circuit Court Bench Warrant issued back in January 2013 after Truitt violated the terms of his probation in a CDS Possession case. Both warrants kept Truitt in the Detention Center on a bond of $60,000.00Charges: Failure to Appear, Violation of Probation

(CBS News) Boston bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev left claiming responsibility for the April 13 attack on the Boston Marathon, reports CBS News senior correspondent John Miller.Sources tell Miller that Tsarnaev wrote the note in the boat he was hiding in as police pursued him, and as he bled from gunshot wounds sustained in an earlier shootout between police and his older brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev.The note, scrawled with a pen on the interior wall of the cabin, said the bombings were retribution for U.S. military action in Afghanistan and Iraq, and called the Boston victims collateral damage in the same way Muslims have been in the American-led wars. "When you attack one Muslim, you attack all Muslims," the note added.More

(Salisbury, MD) Wicomico Tourism recognized its strongest supporters during a reception and awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 14 at the Wicomico County Visitor’s Center. Held annually since 2000, the reception recognizes community members and businesses who have dedicated themselves to supporting tourism initiatives in Wicomico County.

Over the past year, Tourism has sold and held 33 events (7 regional/national), generating 33,000 hotel room nights, 286,000 attendees and an estimated economic impact of $17.6 million. The department also staged four signature events (including ten year anniversary celebrations for Pork in the Park and the Autumn Wine Festival) which attracted over 24,000 attendees. Support received from community members and businesses played a vital role in these accomplishments.

Tourism Manger Steve Miller elaborates, “Tourism has become an economic engine for Wicomico County and it truly is a community-wide effort. From hotels to local businesses and restaurants, this community has bought in and demonstrates on a daily basis what makes Wicomico County so special. We’re excited about the future of tourism in Wicomico County and we’re tremendously grateful for the contributions that these individuals and organizations have made.”

Tourism awards were presented to the Business, Restaurant, Hotelier and Hospitality Person of the Year. The Betty K. Gardner Tourism Personof the Year was also revealed. This award, named in honor of the late Betty K. Gardner, honors an individual who has proven instrumental in the promotion of tourism in Wicomico County.

I was hoping you could help us locate the owner of a male pugwe found in the middle of Nanticoke Rd Wednesday night around 10:30PM. If someone can identify this dog or know the owners could you please have them contact Rose @ 443-783-1170. Thanks

As part of Salisbury Public Works’ ongoing effort to keep the public informed of improvements within the City of Salisbury, please be advised The Southbound lane of North Rt. 13 between Naylor St. & Olive St. will be closed for maintenance that will be done on the sanitary sewer manholes. The State Highway Administration will assist with traffic control. This work shall be completed by Friday, May 17, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. Contact Public Works Water & Sewer Branch at 410-548-3105.

Should you have any questions or need clarification regarding this project, please contact Jay Trott with Salisbury Public Works, Technical Services at 410-548-5460.

The same Internal Revenue Service office that singled out Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny also challenged Israel-related organizations, at least one of which filed suit over the agency’s handling of its application for tax-exempt status.

The trouble for the Israel-focused groups seems to have had different origins than that experienced by conservative groups, but at times the effort seems to have been equally ham-handed.